Robert Carlyle defies illness to confirm attendance at EIFF

Published on 21/06/2012 21:06

ROBERT Carlyle has confirmed he will be heading to the Edinburgh International Festival after all - despite illness ruling him out of a flagship interview at the event this weekend.

• Trainspotting told Twitter followers he will attend premiere of California Solo

• Carlyle recovering from polyp operation on nose

The Trainspotting and Full Monty star had been due to appear at the special BAFTA event on Sunday.

But it emerged just hours before the launch of this year’s festival, which Carlyle is a patron of, that he was unavailable due to “ill health.”

Yesterday Carlyle told his Twitter followers that he had undergone surgery last week to remove a polyp from his nose and said it had ruled him out from this weekend’s event as he was recovering at home.

However Carlyle confirmed he would be able to attend the UK premiere of California Solo, his new film where he portrays an ageing former Britpop rocker, at the festival on 28 June.

Carlyle told his fans: “Thankfully the op was successful and I’m now recovering at home.

“It’s just unfortunate that my BAFTA interview at the festival came too soon.

“Thanks again for your support, it means a great deal to me.”

Meanwhile it has emerged that another of the festival’s patrons, Tilda Swinton, will be in town from today to take in a few films.

The festival’s red carpet was revived for Wednesday night’s opener, Killer Joe, with jury chairmen Elliott Gould and Jim Broadbent joining star Gina Gershon and director William Friedkin at the Festival Theatre.